Mi Familia

The thing that made me most nervous about coming to Spain was the fact that I was going to live with a family. It would have been much easier to live in an apartment or a dorm with my English-speaking friends, but living with a Spanish family will be a much better cultural and educational experience. As it turns out, I don't think I could have asked for a better family! My family has two kids; an eleven year old daughter and a 15 year old son, and now, an American college student :-P. The mother and daughter came to pick me up from the hostal. I knew immediately I could be comfortable with them. There is quite a language barrier which can get kind of overwhelming but they are very patient with me. The kids know a little English (VERY little), and, the daughter especially, slows things down and tries to think of words I might know (there's not very many). The father told me if I don't understand Spanish by the time I am suppsoed to go home that I have to stay in Spain lol. They seem to be a very close knit family and are happy to have me here. They told me I am their first foreign-exchange student, so this is as new for them as it is for me. Also, many buildings in Spain don't have central heating, but my family's apartment building does! Everyone is really jealous, haha. AND what's more, they just got internet, I think just because I am here... I tried to tell them it wasn't necessary but I don't think they understood what I was trying to say. They've also been really helpful as far as showing me around the city goes. The first night I was here mi madre walked me to my school and showed me important places in Granada, and therefore I have yet to get lost! Almost everynight after dinner the whole family watches TV together. I usually join them, even though I obviously don't understand the shows. I really do feel at home here in their apartment. I added some pictures of my room which is a little messy, but I'm sure no ones surprised. I do make my bed though!

Alhambra Photos

pictures from the Alhambra... upper right is a sideways view of the Alcabaza, a really old fortress (I felt like I was in Lord of the Rings... heh), upper left is Generalife, which is basicially a large garden with alot of pavilions, and it was beautiful even in January! The lower left is a picture from the Palacio de Charles V, and lower right is a view of Granada from the Alhambra.

Introduction to Espana

Soooo I've been in Spain for a week now, and it actually feels like alot longer!! The first few days after arriving I felt kinda "woooah what did I get myself into!?" I think that had alot to do with loosing a piece of luggage to the airline (I got it back a couple days later), not knowing any of the other students, aaaand of course missing everyone at home (especially Nick! :-P). The first few days the program directors gave us tours around the city and in the oldest part of the city which is called the Albaicin. The city is awesome, although I KNOW I will get lost. Theres not really any logic to the ways the streets are set up. Some how I haven't got lost yet! Good thing too, because if I did get lost and had to ask for directions, no one would understand what I was trying to say!! If I ever thought that I knew Spanish at all... I was wrong...VERY wrong. Not only does everyone speak a hundred miles a minute, but there is also a very distinct Andalusian accent. For example, they don't pronounce s's, so if they are asking if I like something which is "te gusta" in Spanish, they say "te guta?" So that is taking some time to get used to. However, I do think that I have already improved in listening and understanding what is being said to me, which is a really great thing since all my classes are taught in Spanish-- some of the teachers don't speak English at all.